Atiku breaks Nigerian record, becomes ‘first high profile’ personality in Nigeria to receive COVID-19

Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has made the records as he becomes the first high profile Nigerian personality to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

There are reports of some Nigerian citizens living in the United States and UK who have received the vaccine last year but none of them is a prominent figure in the country.

Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, confirmed the development to Daily  Correspondents on Thursday.

He said Atiku Abubakar received the vaccine in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“The importance of the #COVID19 vaccine in mitigating the effect of the coronavirus cannot be overstated, particularly in Africa and Nigeria. Yesterday (Wednesday), as part of the mass vaccination programme, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,” Atiku’s spokesman said.

“He is anxiously looking forward to when Nigerians, especially medical professionals in the frontline and the most vulnerable will be vaccinated in the country.”

The Pfizer vaccine is the first to be granted emergency use authorisation by the WHO, and according to Pfizer and BioNTech, it is 90 percent effective.

The vaccine has also been approved by the UK, the US, Malaysia and Switzerland.

The Nigerian government had said it was expecting the delivery of 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the country in early 2021.

Atiku breaks Nigerian record, becomes ‘first high profile’ personality in Nigeria to receive COVID-19

Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has made the records as he becomes the first high profile Nigerian personality to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

There are reports of some Nigerian citizens living in the United States and UK who have received the vaccine last year but none of them is a prominent figure in the country.

Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, confirmed the development to Daily  Correspondents on Thursday.

He said Atiku Abubakar received the vaccine in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“The importance of the #COVID19 vaccine in mitigating the effect of the coronavirus cannot be overstated, particularly in Africa and Nigeria. Yesterday (Wednesday), as part of the mass vaccination programme, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,” Atiku’s spokesman said.

“He is anxiously looking forward to when Nigerians, especially medical professionals in the frontline and the most vulnerable will be vaccinated in the country.”

The Pfizer vaccine is the first to be granted emergency use authorisation by the WHO, and according to Pfizer and BioNTech, it is 90 percent effective.

The vaccine has also been approved by the UK, the US, Malaysia and Switzerland.

The Nigerian government had said it was expecting the delivery of 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the country in early 2021.